For society it has become a cultural mystery and myth to talk about death, and even more to think about that day. The more the process of dying and death itself is studied, it becomes evident that society does not talk about it enough, mostly out of fear.
Many times, when people lose someone close to them, they are not prepared for that moment. Death is a basic part of the life process and can even end up being a positive experience in the processes of some devastating diseases; it is the end of a vital circle, as normal as being born and growing up; some cultures have naturalized this process and respect it without fear; It is the end for now of the existence of all living beings, says Dr. Andrés Villarreal, a neurosurgeon at the Medical Center specializing in neurosciences.
The neurobiology of death is the study of death in our brain; Based on the fact that this is part of life, and although much of it is known, death is shrouded in mystery.
How does death sound?
About 30 seconds after cardiac arrest, our bodies go into a power-saving mode by shutting down all of our nerve cells. But when there is no effective cerebral blood flow again, the cells come out of their inhibited state and release all their stored energy, which spreads throughout the brain, says neuroscience specialist Dr. Andrés Villarreal.
Emphasize that neurons in the brain transmit electrical signals at full force for the last time before dying completely. This phenomenon, known in the medical community as a ‘brain tsunami’, had previously only been seen and studied in animals for more than 50 years; only some time ago it was possible to start its study in human beings demonstrating the same phenomenon.
Dr. Ana Bolena Polanco, specialist in emergency medicine; note that the characteristics of a patient who is going through an episode of ‘cerebral tsunami’, presents a highly compromised state of consciousness, whether due to brain disease or not; and in which no brain stem reflexes are evident.
The ER, a professor at the Javeriana University, also emphasizes that the salvation mechanism that is implemented in a case of ‘cerebral tsunami’ is to attend to the primary cause that would cause greater neuronal compromise; such as a bleeding reaction; in turn, minimizing downtime by also implementing advanced resuscitation maneuvers appropriate to the patient at risk.
In recent studies, the sound of death is shown to be evidenced by a recording of the brain’s electrical activity, played at a normal speed of 44 times, in a patient who experienced a traumatic head injury. A cracking sound is detected which represents normal brain cell activity; and silent periods are short circuits of electrical activity caused by ‘brain tsunamis’ or waves of depolarization that spread through injured areas of the brain causing local loss of function. Electrical activity in the brain is perceived to recover, but with each ‘brain tsunami’, the damage to cells can worsen; explains Dr. Andrés Villarreal, neurosurgeon at the Medical Center.
The specialist affirms that ‘cerebral tsunamis’ do not mark the beginning of death, but that the countdown of the clock begins until cell death. If blood flow is not restored after a certain time, the neurons cannot recover and will die; in an approximate time of 2 to 3 minutes.
After this episode, there is complete chaos in the cells; calcium levels, for example, increase a thousand times. These changes are highly toxic to neurons. However, when blood flow is established again and energy is supplied to the brain, some cells can regain function.
Previously, it was thought that the end occurs when the brain stops its electrical activity and goes silent, but this is not the case, the brain has been shown to remain in a viable state for several minutes after this flatline; and then the final ‘cerebral tsunami’ occurs: a wave of depolarization that spreads through the cortex until it ends all brain cell function; assures the specialist of the Institution.
Dr. Andrés Villarreal, neurosurgeon at the Medical Center, affirms that there is a possibility that the increased brain activity can lead people to see a bright light or experience tunnel vision; If that person returns before the cells are destroyed or what is defined as a ‘brain tsunami’ is generated, it is very likely that they will be able to remember what they saw; scientifically it would be what the brain remembers from the experience.